Cigarette and safety match holder



Feb. 13, 1945. M. MAYER 2,369,364

CIG-ARETTE AND SAFETY MATCH HOLDER Filed May 13, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Mame-4 Mn YE? Feb. 13, 1945. MAYER 2,369,364

CIGARETTE AND SAFETY MATCH HOLDER Filed May 13, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR.

By MCI-MEL MAYER Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,369,364 CIGARETTE AND SAFETY MATCH nbmna Michael Mayer, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 13, 1943, Serial N0. 488,771 Claims. (Cl. 206-195) The present invention relates to a cigarette and safety match holder, and has for its principal object to provide a holder which receives a package of cigarettes and which effectively holds a package of safety matches so that a match can be torn from the package and struck to light it without disturbing the match package as a whole.

This combined cigarette and match holder may be used in a variety of difierent places. For example, it may be secured to the steering column of an automobile, to the inside of the door of the glove compartment of an automobile, to the back of the front seat of an automobile, to an ash tray, etc.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating several embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette and match holder applied to the steering column of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device with the cigvelop the automobile steering column I4 and are around the column I4 by a bolt Iia so as to arette package and the match package not shown;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the steering column omitted;

Fig. 4 is a view of the device applied to the inside of the door of the glove compartment of an automobile, showing by dotted lines the open position of the door in which position a cigarette can be removed from the package and a match torn from the match package and struck;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 4 with the cigarette package and match package removed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device applied to a substantially vertical support, which may be a wall or the back of the front seat of an automobile; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an ash tray to which my device is applied.

Referring now to the holder illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, wherein the device is shown attached to the steering column of an automobile, the holder consists of a body I0 which may be formed from any suitable material which has the necessary firmness, such as a metal stamping, a plastic body, a cardboard body, or a stifl' leather body. The body I 0 has an opening II at the top so that a package of cigarettes I2 may be inserted therein. The lower ends l3 of the body partly ensecurely or effectively fasten the body I0 to the column against movement thereon by vibration or otherwise. The package of cigarettes fits down into the opening II and its lower end rests upon the clamp I5 or upon the steering column.

The body III has provision on each side for securely holding a package of safety matches I'I. Near the bottom of the body each side is flanged outwardly and then inwardly to form a square shoulder I8, and immediately below the square shoulder I8 there is provided a beveled shoulder I9 formed by flanging the body outwardly on a bevel which extends beyond the square shoulder I8 and then inwardly to a point where the lower end I3 extends about the steering column. It is to be noted further that the upper and lower faces of each square shoulder I8 are removed for a distance slightly greater than the width of the package of safety matches Il, forming slots 20, while the outer face of the shoulder I8 is left intact forming a strap or bar 2| extending across the slots.

To insert a package of safety matches, the lower or striking part 'I la of the match package is inserted from the top through the two slots 20 of the square shoulder I8 until it strikes the beveled shoulder I9 and until the striking part Ila extends below the strap 2|. Then the striking part Ila is lifted out beyond the strap 2| and the package of matches is pulled upwardly somewhat with the striking part Ila on the outer side of the strap 2|. The flap Ilb of the match package is then inserted behind the free end of the striking part Ila, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the match package being thus normally closed.

It will be understood that both sides of the body are similarly formed. The match package is used in the normal manner, the flap Ilb being lifted, a match being detached, the edge of the flap being inserted behind the striking part of the match package which is now in front of the strap 20, and the match being struck on the striking Part Ila.

In automobiles having a gear shift on the steering column, there is a smaller column in front of the steering column. In that case, the cigarette and match holder will be attached to the smaller column.

' a body or member 22 having a wall 23 which is on the inside of and parallel to the door 24 of the glove compartment, which door is hinged at its lower edge to the instrument panel. At its lower end the wall 23 of the body has an inwardly extending wall or flange 25 on which the bottom of the cigarette package rests, and then there is provided at the inner edge of the wall 25 an upstanding wall 26 which at its upper end is flanged outwardly toward the wall 23, as shown at 21, and

is securely fastened to the outer or front wall 23.

The wall 21 has an opening 28 for the insertion of a package of cigarettes 29 which package at its lower end rests upon the bottom flange or wall 25. Preferably the wall 21 is flanged downwardly as shown at 30 and is held in contact with the wall 23 by a pair of tongues 3| Which extend in front of the downturned flange 30. Near the bottom and on the inner side of the body there are formed a square shoulder 32 and a beveled shoulder 33, the latter being adjacent the wall or flange 25. The wall of the square shoulder 32 is provided with two slots 32a, leaving a strap or bar 34 to receive and hold in position a package of safety matches 35 in precisely the same manner that the two packages of matches are received and held in position in the construction of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

This device is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the inner side of the door 24,

but in'this instance the wall 23 is provided with a pair of hooks 36 which extend inwardly from the inner to the outer side of the door 24, and, if need be, the device can be held from movement on the door 24 by'means of a screw 31. When the door 24 of the glove compartment is swung down to horizontal position, access may be had to the package of cigarettes and to the package of safety matches, one of which is torn from the package and struck in the same manner as previously described.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a device which may be attached to therear of the front seat of an automobilefor' access by the occupants of the rear, seat, or which may be attached to any plane surface, such as a wall. This device is formed from a member 38. At the top and bottom this member has two flanges 39 and 40 lying in the same plane and adapted to be secured to the surface to which it is adapted to be attached by a pair of screws 4|. At the bottom of the upper flange 39 the member 38 extends outwardly at 42 and at the top of the flange 40 the member 38 extends outwardly at 43. The outwardly extending portion 42 has an opening 44 to receive a package of cigarettes, the same being adapted to rest upon the lower outwardly extending portion 43. Between the two portions 42 and 43 there is a wall 45 which is provided with means to secure a package of safety matches in the same manner as before described, namely, a square shoulder 46, a pair of slots 41 through the square shoulder, a strap 48 extending across the same and a beveled shoulder 49 which is immediately above the lower outwardly extending portion 43.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a cigaretteand safety mat-ch holder having a construction such that it In this instance the may be applied to an ash tray ill or to some other ornament adapted to rest upon a table or stand. .1 'This' device is made from a single member as in the case of the previously described devices. It

6 has two parallel walls 52 and 53 joined by a pair of straps 54 between which is an opening 55 to receive a package of cigarettes, which package rests upon an extension of the ash tray. The device is adapted to be secured to the ash tray 59' or to a similar holding device by oppositely (tapered flangesifi which flt into tapered slots in the tray. Either or both of the walls 52 and 53 may be provided with means such as previously described for holding a package-of safety matches, this means consisting of a square shoulder 51 having slots 58", a strap 59 extending across the same, and a beveled shoulder 60 beneath the strap and adapted to function in the same manner as the shoulders previously described.

Thus it will be seen that my combined cigarette and safety match holder'is adapted to be employed in a variety of different ways oryon a variety of different devices, :but in each instance the holder'consists of a cigarette package and safety match package holder includin a shoulder which extends outwardly from the plane surface of the "device, a strap'across the same, and a beveled shoulder beneath the square shoulder extending outwardly beyond the strap so that when a package of safety matches is inserted behind the strap the bottom will engage the beveled shoulder and force the striking part of he match package outwardly so that it can be elevated and lie in front of the strap, whereupon the safety match package can be used in the manner in which such package is ordinarily used. a

While I have shown certain embodiments of the invention, I do not desire to be confined to the precise details shown as the device may find my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departurefrom the spirit and the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a device which serves as a safety match holder, 9. wall having a strap extending along'the wall outwardly thereof, an outwardly inclined I shoulder immediately beneathsaid strap which is adapted to-force the lower part of the package outwardly from the wall so that when the package is slightly elevated the striking part thereof I will be in front of the strap and the package is securely held in position. I

holder and a match package holder, said device having a strap which extends outwardly beyond the wall of the cigarette package holder and having an outwardly inclined shoulder immeeo diately beneath said strap adapted to force the striking part of the match package outwardly so that when it is slightly elevated it will lie in front of the strap so that the flap of the match packutility for other purposes or in association with other supporting devices, and I therefore aim in i 2. A device comprising .a' cigarette package age can be inserted behind the same for use in.

so that when it is slightly elevated it will lie in front of the strap so that the flap of the match a package can be inserted behind the same for use in the conventional manner.

4. A combined holder for a package of cigarettes and a pair of packages of safety matches comprising a single member having a pair of side walls and an opening at the top int which the package of cigarettes is adapted to be placed, each of said side walls having means for receiving a package of safety matches, said means comprising a strap which extends outwardly beyond the wall of the cigarette holder and having an outwardly inclined shoulder immediately beneath said strap adapted to force the striking part of the match package outwardly so that when it is slightly elevated it will lie in front of the strap 5. In combination with the steering column of an automobile, a combined cigarette package and match package holder, said holder comprising a member the lower ends of which are adapted to extend about and to be clamped to the steering column, said holder having an opening to receive a, package of cigarettes and having on one or on each side wall means for receiving a package of safety matches, said means comprising a strap which extends outwardly beyond the wall of the holder and having an outwardly inclined shoulder immediately beneath said strap adapted to force the striking part of the match package outwardly so that when it is slightly elevated it will lie in front of the strap so that the flap of the match package can be inserted behind the same for use in the conventional manner.

MICHAEL MAYER. 

